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Following tonight’s trial at Stockland Park, the Warriors will head back to their 4 ½-star accommodation at Alexandra Headland and “unwind” with a session on the kava.

According to veteran Ruben Wiki, this routine has been one of the contributing factors in the Auckland-based NRL side performing so consistently well over the past three seasons.

The custom was introduced to the club by Wiki and is now practised after every match, home and away.

“It helps the boys relax, and also assists in bringing out the bumps and the bruises. And after a few cups of kava, I sleep superbly,” said the Kiwi veteran who is only 12 appearances away from being just the 10th player to reach the magnificent 300 NRL games milestone.

“I sensed there might have been some resistance when I arrived here three seasons ago and suggested we drink kava after a match, but it’s well and truly an accepted routine now. The new guys, including Tatey (Brent Tate), will have to acquire a taste.”

Kava is a beverage produced from the roots of pepper trees which grow in the Pacific Islands. The root is ground to a powder which is mixed with water and strained through a cheesecloth-type material.

Although kava is not an alcohol, it is a legal intoxicant. However Wiki considers it a mild form of tranquiliser and says it is primarily consumed as a relaxant.

“I have seen people become ‘legless’ if they drink too much, but it does not have the same effect on a person as alcohol,” he said.

“If someone drinks too much, they will not become disorientated and slur their words like a drunk person.

“Kava is more a sedative, and I truly believe it has been a wonderful and successful innovation for the Warriors.”

But someone else will need to take charge of the kava ritual from season 2009 onwards because this is to be Wiki’s swansong. After 15 seasons and 288 appearances, he says one more in the NRL will do.

However, that is not the end of his career. His manager is currently in England sourcing a new deal for “probably two more years”.

And although he concedes his body is not what it once was, he promises Warriors fans they will see a more effective Ruben Wiki in action this year than in 2007.

“I played injured all last year,” he admitted.

“I suffered a rib cartilage injury in our very first trial and it never fully came good. Two or three times I thought it was right, but ribs are the worst injury because rest is the only thing that will heal them.

“But I’m raring to go again now. And I think we have a pretty special playing roster this year too. We will have a good season.”

And Wiki, like most Kiwis it seems, is delighted Wayne Bennett has accepted a hands-on coaching role with the New Zealand Test side.

The holder of the world record for most rugby league Tests – 55 in the black and white – he hopes to be involved in some capacity with the World Cup campaign at season’s end. But he was non-convincing when asked whether he would play.

“No, I’m finished at that level, but would still loved to be involved,” he said.

“I am a good mate of (new head coach) Steve Kearney, and will help him out in any way he thinks I can. It would be good to play in the World Cup, but no, I won’t. I’ll take my boots along though, just in case.”

After his stint in England, Wiki plans to return to Auckland and be involved in some way with the Warriors. Whether that will be in a coaching capacity, is undecided at this stage.

“I love rugby league, I love the Warriors and I love New Zealand,” he said.

And his love of his country will never be disputed while his two young children are alive. Son Denzel (named after Denzel Washington) and daughter McKenzie both have the initials NZ in their names.

“We didn’t realise that until after we had picked the names,” says Wiki, but there is a strong school of thought that might not be the case.